Heat pumps work by moving heat based on your needs. For cooling a home the heat pump will move warm air to the outside of the home. For heating a home the heat pump moves ambient warmth from the air, nearby body of water, or ground(geothermal) into the home. Because heat pumps move heat rather than generating it they are naturally more efficient than traditional heating and cooling systems.

Air-source heat pumps pull their heat from the ambient temperature of the outside air. When the outdoor temperature drops below 40° a panel of electric coils aid in heating the air. These heat pumps work well in most occasions, but do not work well in periods of sub-freezing temperatures and are not as efficient as other systems in areas with cold winters.

Geothermal heat pumps pull their heat from deeper in the earth where temperatures remain more constant. During summer months the ground temperatures are much cooler than surface temperatures. The heat pump circulates water through the ground in a piping system that cools the water. This cooler water is used by the heat pump to pull the heat from the air inside your home, similar to an air conditioner system, but more efficient. During winter months the same thing happens except the ground is now warmer than the temperature outside. The piping system circulates the water underground where it is warmed up and the heat pump brings that warmth into your home. Geothermal heat pumps work better in climates that experience larger seasonal temperature shifts as they use a more constant temperature source of heat. They also have a long component lifetime and a generous energy savings.

Dual fuel heat pumps are powered by electricity or natural gas. When the temperatures are cool, above 35° the system runs on electricity. When the temperature drops lower than this the system switches to gas and acts as a gas furnace. This type of system is an efficient compromise in climates with extended periods of sub-freezing weather.

To install a heat pump system a home must have a system of ductwork. We at Yuhan Heating and Air Conditioning can install or enlarge your duct system to work with a heat pump system.